In the modern age, faith and belief can be placed on the same level of certainty as scientific theory. In its issue no. 134 (1992), the journal, Faith and Reason, from Manchester College, Oxford (England), published an article titled, ‘The Relationship between Faith and Reason’, by Dr. Paul Badham.

Paul Badham is professor emeritus of Theology and Religious Studies at St. David’s College, Lampeter, in the University of Wales. His paper in this issue had been presented at a Conference of the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Science in Moscow in November 1991.

Professor Badham’s paper can indeed be called thought-provoking and, as such, is worth reading, but he has made certain points with which I do not agree. He states that philosophical certainty should not be confused with religious certitude. He writes: ‘As a philosopher of religion I feel compelled to acknowledge that faith could never be placed on the same level of certainty as scientific knowledge’.

In contrast, I feel that faith and belief can indeed be placed on the same level of certainty as scientific theory. In the twenty-first century, there is no real difference between the two.

Source: Spirit of Islam May 2020

The Quran states, “This is a blessed Book which We sent down to you [ Muhammad], for people to ponder over its messages, and for those with understanding to take heed.” (38:29) Islam as presented in the Quran and demonstrated by the Prophet possesses the quality of being in accordance with human reason and human nature. Rational thinking and academic progress do not clash with the message of Islam. That is to say, at no stage does Islam and reason contradict one another. No believer is faced with the problem of accepting religious dogmas at the expense of science and reason. Acknowledging this characteristic of Islam, George Bernard Shaw writes:

When the Mohammedan reformation took place, it left its followers with the enormous advantage of having the only established religion in the world, in whose articles of faith, any intelligent and educated person could believe. It is due to this characteristic of Islam that people have been attracted towards Islam before as well as after the age of science. The modern educated mind when presented with the different aspects of Islam as it is, acknowledges that it is according to nature and appeals to one’s reasoning.

What George Bernard Shaw has termed an enormous advantage for the Muslims of the first phase, exists equally for the believers of today. But it is not being availed of. Instead of presenting the message of Islam peacefully, Muslims are putting up a violent and unfriendly image of Islam. If people create obstacles by resorting to general ill will, there will be a misunderstanding of religion. When this obstacle is removed, the Islamic goal of living in harmony society will be fulfilled.

The modern educated mind, when presented with the different aspects of Islam as it is, acknowledges that it is according to nature and appeals to one’s reasoning.

Source: Spirit of Islam June 2019

The study of religion is what is termed, in general, beliefs pertaining to the unseen world. These are the beliefs that are beyond our known sensory world. That is the existence of God and the angels, revelation, Hell and Heaven, etc. In this other aspect of religion, direct observations do not exist. The study of religion must, therefore, be done in the light of that logical principle called inference on the basis of observation, that is, the same logical principle that the evolutionists employ in the second aspect of their theory.

Looked at in light of this principle, both religion and science are at par. Both have two equally different parts. One part is based on such scientific certainty as permits direct argument. The other part is based on scientific inference, to prove which only the principle of indirect argument may be used. Keeping this logical division before us, we can find no actual difference between the two.

It is true that the new facts regarding the universe discovered in the twentieth century have revolutionized the world of logic. The difference between religious argument and scientific argument which had been erroneously conceived has been eliminated. In respect of argument, the case of science too has reached exactly the same point as religion.

Both the Direct and Inferential Arguments are valid. Newton (1642-1727) made a special study of the solar system, discovering laws governing the revolution of planets around the sun. His study was, however, confined to astronomical bodies, which can be called the macroworld. It is possible in the macroworld to weigh and measure things. As a result of the immediate impact of these discoveries, many began to think along the lines that reality was observable and that the proper and valid argument was one based on observation. It was under the influence of this concept that philosophy generally known as logical positivism came into being.

However, the discoveries made in the first quarter of the twentieth century shook the very foundation of the preliminary theories. These later discoveries revealed that beyond this world of appearance, a whole world was hidden, a world that does not come under observation. It is only indirectly possible to understand this hidden world and present arguments in its favour. That is, by observing the effects of something, we arrive at an understanding of its existence.

This discovery altered the whole picture. When access to human knowledge was limited to the macrocosmic world, man was prey to misapprehension—that reality is only that which is observable. But when human knowledge penetrated the microworld, the academic situation underwent a paradigm shift.

Now it was revealed that the field of direct argument was extremely limited. New facts which came to the knowledge of man were so abstruse that indirect or inferential argument alone was applicable. For instance, in 1895, the German scientist Wilhelm Konrad Roentgen found during an experiment that on a glass before him some effects were observable despite the fact that there was no known link between his experiment and the glass. He concluded that there was invisible radiation, which was traveling at the speed of 186,000 miles per second.

Due to the unknown nature of this radiation, Roentgen named it X-ray. The twentieth century brought forth the discoveries of a number of things like X-rays which do not come under direct human observation. However, due to their effects having come to the knowledge of man, it was not possible to deny their existence. As a result of modern research, not only were different departments of science revolutionized but the science of logic too witnessed fundamental changes.

Now inferential reasoning was also accepted as a valid method of reasoning, for, without discoveries like X-rays, the scientific structure of the atom, the existence of dark matter, etc., could not be explained. After the extension of this method of reasoning in modern times, the argument on religious faith has become as valid as reasoning on scientific concepts. Differences in the criterion of logic have now vanished.

The same inferential logic that is employed to prove newly discovered concepts of science can be applied to prove the veracity of religious truths like the existence of God, and the Hereafter.

Source: God Arises

Speaking Tree| TOI | April 2, 2011

Rational thinking means reason-based thinking. It is the kind of thinking that is based on proven facts. It is based on sound reason. We tend to let our heart rule our thinking and this can cloud our judgement. We need to control our emotions and understand the realities of life objectively; only then will we be able to develop rational thinking.